Gamer
10-24-2010, 04:24 AM
c/p By Michael Marley
SAN DIEGO—Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta may get a fat head down the line as the praise and adulation accumulates.
But right now, in the wake of raising his record to 20-0-1 with sizzling, two round stoppage here Friday night over Mexican journeyman Ivan Valle, the 23 year old Cebuano has his feet firmly anchored on the ground.
“The next Manny” and “a new Pacman” and other loose talk seems only to bemuse the lefthanded lightweight who bases his boxing operations here with manager Vincent Parra.
Promoter Don Chargin, who is age 82 but has not rushed the development of the Pinoy boxer, said he's had that important chat with Gesta.
“Oh, we talked about all that,” Chargin said. “I told the kid don't get caught up in being a new Manny or another Pacman or anything along those lines. Pacquiao is a once in a lifetime, once in a generation type talent in boxing.
“All Mercito has to be or should try to be is the best Mercito he can be and that will be enough.”
Chargin revealed that Gesta is now done fighting for the year and will shortly return to Cebu and remain there through the holidays.
“I will line up something for him in January and he can take another step up the ladder.”
According to the Fighting/Writing Dentist Dr. Ed de la Vega, this will be Gesta's first trip back to his homeland in four years.
He has certainly earned the R & R period.
Gesta, who nearly finished the 27-13-3 Valle in the opening round of their scheduled eight-rounder which was televised nationally on Telefutura, is developing a real fan base in this area.
Local fight scribe/publicist Ralph Gonzalez said he has seen Gesta's ticketselling power soar over time.
"The fans think they're seeing a real star coming along. He has a crowdpleasing style, the people like him," Gonzalez said.
There were many Filipinos, many of them as young or younger than the fighter in the cozy, 1100-seat arena at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel ballroom.
Maybe there is boxing life after Megamanny after all.
SAN DIEGO—Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta may get a fat head down the line as the praise and adulation accumulates.
But right now, in the wake of raising his record to 20-0-1 with sizzling, two round stoppage here Friday night over Mexican journeyman Ivan Valle, the 23 year old Cebuano has his feet firmly anchored on the ground.
“The next Manny” and “a new Pacman” and other loose talk seems only to bemuse the lefthanded lightweight who bases his boxing operations here with manager Vincent Parra.
Promoter Don Chargin, who is age 82 but has not rushed the development of the Pinoy boxer, said he's had that important chat with Gesta.
“Oh, we talked about all that,” Chargin said. “I told the kid don't get caught up in being a new Manny or another Pacman or anything along those lines. Pacquiao is a once in a lifetime, once in a generation type talent in boxing.
“All Mercito has to be or should try to be is the best Mercito he can be and that will be enough.”
Chargin revealed that Gesta is now done fighting for the year and will shortly return to Cebu and remain there through the holidays.
“I will line up something for him in January and he can take another step up the ladder.”
According to the Fighting/Writing Dentist Dr. Ed de la Vega, this will be Gesta's first trip back to his homeland in four years.
He has certainly earned the R & R period.
Gesta, who nearly finished the 27-13-3 Valle in the opening round of their scheduled eight-rounder which was televised nationally on Telefutura, is developing a real fan base in this area.
Local fight scribe/publicist Ralph Gonzalez said he has seen Gesta's ticketselling power soar over time.
"The fans think they're seeing a real star coming along. He has a crowdpleasing style, the people like him," Gonzalez said.
There were many Filipinos, many of them as young or younger than the fighter in the cozy, 1100-seat arena at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel ballroom.
Maybe there is boxing life after Megamanny after all.